Igniter jig for electric blasting initiators



Nov. 9, 1954 D. D. HUYETT IGNITER JIG FOR ELECTRIC BLASTING INITIATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 United States Patent r? 2,693,634 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 ice IGNITER JIG FOR ELECTRIC BLASTIN G INITEATORS Daniel D. Huyett, Wilmington, DeL, assignor to Atlas Powder Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application December 5, 1951, Serial N 0. 259,933

2 Claims. (Cl. 22-286) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders or jigs for supporting a plurality of igniters for electric blasting initiators in predetermined position relative to one another and to a corresponding plurality of pairs of Wires preparatory to securing the wires to the igniters.

In the manufacture of electric blasting initiators or the like, a pair of wires is inserted through a resilient plug. An electric igniter or match is then fastened to the wires, for example, by soldering, and the plug and electric igniter assembly is then inserted into a loaded detonator shell. When such articles are manufactured on a production-line basis, it is desirable to fasten simultaneously a plurality of electric igniters to a like plurality of pairs of wires. To this end, means must be provided to support a plurality of electric igniters in a predetermined position with respect to each other and with respect to the wires.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel device to support a plurality of igniters in a predetermined fixed relationship with respect to each other.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel holder or jig of the stated character which is operable to securely maintain a plurality of electric igniters in a predetermined position with respect to a corresponding plurality of pairs of wires while the wires are being secured to the electric igniters.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel holder or jig of the type described having the features and characteristics set forth which is of relatively simplified construction and entirely eflicient and effective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a hoider or jig made in accordance with the present invention secured to the forward end of a wire tray, and maintaining a plurality of electric igniters in a predetermined relation with respect to a plurality of pairs of wires;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 22 Fig. 1, illustrating the means for maintaining the electric igniters in position on the holder;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33, Fig. 1, illustrating the means for securing the holder to the wire tray;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the end of an electric igniter holder;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a tray for supporting the wires to which the electric igniter holder of the present invention is adapted to be secured;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66, Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective View of an electric igniter and a resilient plug having a pair of Wires extending therethrough.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates generally an electric igniter holder or jig which is adapted to support a plurality of electric igniters 11 in a predetermined position with respect to each other and to a corresponding plurality of pairs of wires. The holder or jig positions an igniter intermediate of the ends of each pair of wires 12 which extend through a resilient plug 13. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the holder 10 is adapted to be secured to the forward end of a tray 14 which is the subject of a co-pending application, Serial No. 254,178, filed October 31, 1951.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, the tray or jig 14 for supporting the wires comprises a tray portion 15 on which spools or bundles of wires may be placed. The wires extend from the spools or bundles through a clamping member 16 which securely grips the wires between a pair of rubber gaskets and prevents displacement of the wires with respect to the tray 14. Positioned at the forward end of the tray 14 is a displaceable guide 17 which is telescopically mounted in side wall portions 18 of the tray 14 and is normally urged to a forward limit position by means of springs (not shown). In the present instance, the wires extend through the displaceable guide 17 and have resilient rubber plugs secured thereon as illustrated in Fig. 2. A plug support 19 having a plurality of funnel-shaped openings 21 therein is positioned over the plugs 13 and secured to the displaceable guide to maintain the plugs 13 in their desired position.

In accordance with the present invention, the holder or jig 10 comprises a cross frame member 22 which extends the full width of the holder and terminates in rearwardly extending leg portions 23, 23 which are adapted to be slidably engaged by the side wall portions 18 of the tray 14. As more fully described hereinafter, the cross frame member 22 and leg portions 23 may be moved longitudinally with respect to the side wall portions 18 of the tialy 14 to properly position the holder 10 on the tray Extending between the opposite leg portions 23 and rotatably mounted therein is a shaft 24 positioned in spaced parallel relationship with the cross frame member 22 as more fully described hereinafter. The shaft 24 is adapted to be rotated between predetermined limit positions. In one limit position of the shaft 24, the electric igniters 11 are secured to the holder and, in the other limit position thereof, the igniters may be readily removed from the holder.

As previously described, means are provided to support the electric igniters in a predetermined fixed position on the match holder or jig. To this end, a support 25 is positioned longitudinally of the holder in spaced parallel w relationship with the shaft 24 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2

\ 25 with their heads 11a positioned in the trough 27 and their stems 11b extending rearwardly of the support over the lip portion 26.

Means are provided to releasably secure the igniters 11 in this position on the support 25. To this end, a plurality of clips 28 are secured to the rotatable shaft 24 as indicated at 29. The clips 23 have a pair of rearwardly extending finger portions 30 thereon which terminate in downwardly extending projections 31 as illustrated in Fig. 2. By this construction, the finger portions 30 pass over the heads of the igniters and the projections 31 engage the upper surfaces of the igniter stems. To secure the igniters in position on the support, the shaft 24 is rotated to its extreme clockwise position with respect to Fig. 2, thereby causing the downwardly extending projection 31 on the clips 28 to engage the upper surface of the igniter stems and securely grip the igniters between the end portions of the clips 28 and the upper surface of the lip 26. In order to release the igniter from the holder, the shaft 24 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction with respect to Fig. 2 to its other limit position, thereby permitting the igniters to be removed from the support.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to lock the shaft 24 in its clockwise limit position wherein the clips 28 engage the igniters 11. To this end, a latch casing 32 is fixedly secured to each end of the shaft 24, for example by means of pins 33, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Each of the latch casings 32 have latch members 34 slidably mounted therein for forward and rearward movement with respect to the .3 support 25 between predetermined limit positions. The latch members 34 are-normally resiliently urged to their extreme rearward position with respect to the support 25 by means of coil springs 36 which are held captive ;in the latch-casings 32 and engage forward surface of the latchrnembers :34. When the clips 28 are in engagement with the igniters-on the support .25, the latch members 34 ;are in axia'lalignment with openings 37 extending through keepers 38 secured to the inner ends of the lug portions. 23 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The .coil springs 36 resiliently urge the latch members 34 into. ongagement with the keepers '38 :therebypreventing movement of the shaft .24 and .clips .28. An operating lever 39 secured to each of the latch members -.34--and extending outwardly through openings '41 ,-:in the latch casings 32 permit the latch members 134 to be withdrawnfrom engagement with the keepers 38 thereby allowing the shaft 24 to be rotated to its other limit position.

After a plurality of igniters have been positioned on the support 25, the shaft 24- is, rotated in the clockwise direction thereby placing :the clips 23 in engagement with the igniters 11 and-securing them to the holder. The holderlfl is then secured to-the forward'end of the tray 14 toposition the stems of the igniters 11' between theends of the wires 12. in order-to fasten the latch holder to the tray 14, a bracket 42 whichcarries .a spring clip 43 is secured to the upper surface of .each of the latch casings 32. The spring clips'43 extend-rearwardly of the holder 10 and terminate :in outwardly projecting lug portions 44 which are adapted-to engage wedge-shaped projections'45 extending upwardly from the side frame members 18 of the wire tray 14.

By this construction, after the igniters have been sccured to the holder, the spring clips 45;are in a substantial horizontal position. As the holder 10 is positioned between the side frame members 18 of the tray 14 as previously described, the outwardly projecting lugs 44 engage the upper surface of the side frame members .18. Relative rearward movement. of the holder 10 with respect tothe tray 14 causes the lugs-44 on the spring clips -43 to be biased upwardly over the wedge-shaped projections 45 on the side frame members 18 of the tray and interlocked behind the projections 45, thereby securing the holder to the tray 14. When it is desired to release the holder from the tray, the latches 34 are withdrawn from engagement with the keepers .-38 and the shaft 24 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction thereby removing thespring clips 43 from engagement with the projections 45.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the present invention provides novel apparatus which is operable to support a plurality of igniters in a predetermined fixed relation. Furthermore, the present invention provides a novelelectric igniter holder :or jig which is operable to securely maintain a plurality of electric igniters in a predetermined position with respect to a plurality of pairs \of wires while the wires are being secured .to opposite sides of the electric igniters.

While a certain embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated-and describedherein, --itis notintended to limit the invention to such a disclosure and changes and modifications may be incorporated and emboiiieii therein within the scope of the following claims.

1. An igniter jig adapted to support a plurality of electric igniter elements in predetermined fixed relation with respect to each other and to a corresponding plurality of pairs of wires carried by a wire support, comprising a frame having rearwardly extending leg portions at opposite sides thereof, a transverse support extending between said frame leg portions and having a recess'extending longitudinally thereof to receive said igniter elements, a shaft extending between the frame leg portions in spaced parallel relation to said transverse support, mounting means for said shaft rotatable between pre' determined limit positions, a plurality of clips secured to :said shaft, the terminalend portions 10f said ,plurality of clips terminating in a ,linegparallelto the axis of said trough and operable in one limit position of .the shaft to engage upon said igniter elements in said trough :and clamp the same in position uponsaid transversesupport, latch mechanism to releasably secure .said shaft'in .said one limitposition, and means to secure said igniter jig to said wire support toposition-the'igniterelements in said predetermined fixed relation with :respect to the wires.

2. An igniter jig adapted to support a plurality of electric igniter elements in predetermined ,fixed relation with respect to each other and to. a corresponding plurality of pairs of wires carried by a wire support, comprising a frame having .rearwardly extending .leg ;portions at opposite sides thereof, a transverse support extending between .said frame leg portions and having .a .trough therein to receive said igniter elements, trunnions rotatably mounted in said frame leg portions for movement between predetermined limit positions, a shaft extending transversely between .said leg portions :and havingaits opposite ends fixedly mounted in said .trunnions, a. plurality of clips securedto .said shaft and operable in one limit position -of.the shaft to engageupon said igniter elements and clamp the same imposition upon said trans verse support, latch-mechanism to rcleasably secure said shaft in said one limit. position, ;.and-means to-. secure said lgniter jig to said wire support to position the lgniter elements in said predetermined fixed relatio with respect to the wires.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 2,257,122 O'Connor Sept. '30, 1941 2,401,176 Muller May 28,1946 2,606,269 Craig Aug. 5, 1.9.5.2 

